Astro Van Mobile Set up

[ExoticAutoDetai]

I am thinking about setting up an Astro I have for mobile detail. I was wondering whats the biggest water tank i should go for? I had in mind a water tank between 100 and 150 gallons of water. Lets keep in mind the more weight the more gas the car spends.

Other than the water tank I will be carrying my 3,000 PSI Ridgid PW, a 30 Gallon air compressor, generator, mid size vaccum, my detail supplies and chemicals.

I plan on doing about 5-8 cars a day wash and wax.

About how many cars sedan size, suv size can i do with 125 gallon water tank?Feed back please

 

[Meghan]

I think that is a great idea, I hope you will share some pictures with us as I am sure others can learn from the work you are going to do. As for water tanks I will let the pros pipe in on that!

 

[jwellsii]

Need to figure the weight limits of the van. Remember water weighs 8.33 pounds per gallon. Just something to keep in mind. Good luck with your setup.:idea:

 

[JohnHenry]

Don't know how much experience you have, but I would be very careful with a 3000 PSI pressure washer. Good for driveways, dangerous on paint.

 

[jwellsii]

The 3000 PSI is fine, just make sure you turn the pressure down. Having a 3000 PSI lets you do pressure washing jobs that may come along. Also go to a pressure washing supply store and ask for a fan rinse tip, you can't hurt anything with that tip.:cruisin:

 

[tuscarora dave]

Does your Astro van have the single ply fiberglass leaf springs? If so you may want to look into having steel leaf springs installed on it. Tex Star Detail runs an Astro van. He had to have the steel springs installed on his van to handle the weight of all his equipment. I have a 95 GMC Safari with the fiberglass springs and I don't think it would support the weight of a water tank of that size.

I normally hook up to the customer's water supply so I don't yet have a water tank in my van. One thing I can tell you about Astro vans is that the 4.3 liter V6 can handle the weight. My van runs the same whether it's loaded down or if it's empty. The 4.3 has tons of torque to handle whatever you can pile in it but 150 gallons of water is an extra 1249.5 pounds and that doesn't include the weight of the tank or any extra gear. I truly believe the engine would handle that kind of weight but you would have the van itself way overweight.

To run that set up you will probably want to be in a 1 ton van like an E-350 or a GMC-Chevrolet 3500 series van.

 

[ExoticAutoDetai]

The 3000 PSI is fine, just make sure you turn the pressure down. Having a 3000 PSI lets you do pressure washing jobs that may come along. Also go to a pressure washing supply store and ask for a fan rinse tip, you can't hurt anything with that tip.:cruisin:

yea I know the 3k psi comes in handy especially muddy cars. It all depends on the tip like mine has a wide spreading tip so it must be the fan rinse tip you're talking about. I have been doing this for 5 years never had a problem with my PW.



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[ExoticAutoDetai]

Does your Astro van have the single ply fiberglass leaf springs? If so you may want to look into having steel leaf springs installed on it. Tex Star Detail runs an Astro van. He had to have the steel springs installed on his van to handle the weight of all his equipment. I have a 95 GMC Safari with the fiberglass springs and I don't think it would support the weight of a water tank of that size.

I normally hook up to the customer's water supply so I don't yet have a water tank in my van. One thing I can tell you about Astro vans is that the 4.3 liter V6 can handle the weight. My van runs the same whether it's loaded down or if it's empty. The 4.3 has tons of torque to handle whatever you can pile in it but 150 gallons of water is an extra 1249.5 pounds and that doesn't include the weight of the tank or any extra gear. I truly believe the engine would handle that kind of weight but you would have the van itself way overweight.

To run that set up you will probably want to be in a 1 ton van like an E-350 or a GMC-Chevrolet 3500 series van.

You are absolutely right, I forgot to mention I was going to change my leaf spring to the steel ones. I am not sure if mines are fiberglass or steel already but mine has a 4.3 engine The astro is under storage a retarded mechanic mess it up somehow so I am going to check it out with a buddy of mine he is a certified mechanic and a good one. I am going to see if is not expensive to fix. I wouldn't mind getting a Chevy 3500 but they are expensive!!


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[ExoticAutoDetai]

I think that is a great idea, I hope you will share some pictures with us as I am sure others can learn from the work you are going to do. As for water tanks I will let the pros pipe in on that!

Thanks Meg, I will share some pictures when I get everything set up nice!!

 

[Dunwoody Detail]

i have 2 ford e-250 vans both run a 150 gallon tank , you can estimate that an average car will use up 8-10 gallons of water so 100 galllon is more than enough. oh yea both vans run 3300 psi but we use 6.5 gallon nozzles so at 4 inches from the tip its safe

 

[howejt]

If you are towing or carrying weight with an Astro van I would highly recommend installing Bilstein shocks. Really transforms the vehicle. I had a near mint '95 cargo version and rebuilt the suspension (had steel leaf springs from the factory), but ended up selling as it was just a miserable vehicle to drive. Typical 1980-90s GM truck sloppy steering, wandering on the highway especially in crosswinds, touchy ABS brakes, etc. Just the way they are. The newer full-size GM vans are greatly improved, I'd consider one if you had to buy something.

 

[mpm]

A thought for you about the Astro van. If you haven't done so try using ONR on as many vehicles as you can. It might help you decide on the size water tank you need. That in turn will help with your vehicle choice or atleast it has mine. I can do 5 cars a day and sometimes use less than 10 gallons of water and thats all due to ONR. I've got a 55 gallon tank that I rarely fill more than 1/2 full. ONR will allow me to get a smaller vehicle which will use less fuel and help my bottom line. It could help yours also.

 

[mujahdi]

hello all my setup is a basic setup as im not going into being a deatailer expert as i run a cleaning business that cleans commercial residential and vehicles. as the pressure washer can be used as mulitpurpose in my business but as far as my business with a side feature of auto detailing im offering a no touch car wash using foam cannon drying with blower and polishin wheels with foam ball attached to drill the idea of no touch seems to have more ppl intereseted in getting their car washed as i already have numerous offers to wash their vehicle with my setup. also if i do have to touch their vehicle it will be with a no rinse product so i can spray and wipe it down fast the object is to get the customer in and out with a beauty wash and wax i only use 5 chemicals as optimum all purpose cleaner which is 4 products in one and the optimum no rinse wash that is also 3 or 4 products in one. i use the auto geek foam wash and cherry tire gel for tires.

this is my project for the weekend it suppose to rain tommorow and stop so once it stops i will post more pics with the items mounted in van

click above to like my face book page

 

[mujahdi]

these are the only chemicals i plan on using besides buying air freshener from chemical guys i buy concentrated chemicals as i can get the most out of it than already mixed gallon which will be gone faster than a gallon concentrated chemical

 

[mujahdi]

 

[mujahdi]

 

[mujahdi]

 

[BobbyG]

hello all my setup is a basic setup as im not going into being a deatailer expert as i run a cleaning business that cleans commercial residential and vehicles. as the pressure washer can be used as mulitpurpose in my business but as far as my business with a side feature of auto detailing im offering a no touch car wash using foam cannon drying with blower and polishin wheels with foam ball attached to drill the idea of no touch seems to have more ppl intereseted in getting their car washed as i already have numerous offers to wash their vehicle with my setup. also if i do have to touch their vehicle it will be with a no rinse product so i can spray and wipe it down fast the object is to get the customer in and out with a beauty wash and wax i only use 5 chemicals as optimum all purpose cleaner which is 4 products in one and the optimum no rinse wash that is also 3 or 4 products in one. i use the auto geek foam wash and cherry tire gel for tires.

this is my project for the weekend it suppose to rain tommorow and stop so once it stops i will post more pics with the items mounted in van

click above to like my face book page

WOW, you have put together a really nice setup! I'm very impressed with how professional and well thought out your rig is...rops:

Congratulations and good luck with your business!! :dblthumb2:

 

[mujahdi]

 

[mujahdi]

thank you